RPA aircraft ditches into sea

Kochi: A remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) of the Indian Navy on a routine training mission from Naval Air Station, INS Garuda here, ditched into the sea nine miles from Kochi tonight, Navy said.

The incident occurred at about 7:30 pm.

“The aircraft had got airborne 06:35 pm but developed critical engine malfunction and a controlled ditching was undertaken at sea. Other IN and ICG Aircraft flying in the vicinity were immediately diverted to search for the ditched aircraft,” a Navy release said.

The wreckage has not yet been sighted. Aerial search by IN Dornier and ALH is in progress, it said.

Meanwhile ships at sea with divers and other necessary equipment have also been diverted to the crash area which has a depth of 24 metres to locate and recover the RPA.

“No personnel were injured in the incident,” it said.

A Board of Inquiry has been ordered to investigate the incident, Navy added.